Brainssss Teasers: 4 Decades of Zombie Trailers

In anticipation of The Walking Dead's Sunday premiere on AMC, Wired.com takes a look at the most influential zombie films of the last 40-plus years.

From George A. Romero's groundbreaking Living Dead series modern twists like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, ghouls have been chowing down on guts and brains -- and taking shotgun blasts to the face -- for four decades.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

A group of people hide from hungry zombies in a farmhouse in director George A. Romero's low-budget, black-and-white masterpiece that got the ghoul genre going.

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall. Director George A. Romero follows up his original zombie flick with a winner.

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

When a pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to reanimate. Director Dan O'Bannon's zombies go on a rampage through Louisville, Kentucky, seeking their favorite food — brains.

28 Days Later (2002)

Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the United Kingdom, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary in director Danny Boyle's stunning update of the zombie-film genre.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother — and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living. Geek favorite Simon Pegg plays the title role in Edgar Wright's hilarious zombie spoof.

Dead Set (2008)

A zombie outbreak occurs during a fictional Big Brother reality show, but the housemates are unaware of the impending doom outside.

Zombieland (2009)

In the early 21st century, zombies have taken over America. A shy and inexperienced college student, who has survived by following his own rules, meets a wild zombie killer with a wide variety of weapons in director Ruben Fleischer's ghoulish laugh-a-thon.

The Walking Dead (2010)

Police officer Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies.
Directed by Frank Darabont, the television show based on Robert Kirkman's critically acclaimed comic book series debuts at 10 p.m./9 p.m. Central Sunday on AMC.

Walking Dead Zombie Pix and 666 Halloween Giveaway

See behind-the-scenes photos of the awesome makeup work for The Walking Dead in Wired.com’s gallery. Plus, leave a comment in the Walking Dead gallery and you’ll be entered to win one of six ghoulish prize packages from BlackLabel.com.